Infectious-disease Screening and Vaccination for Refugees and Asylum Seekers Entering Europe in 2015–16: A Scoping Study of Six European Union Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Special_Issue_1) ◽  
pp. i92-i104
Author(s):  
Pierluca Piselli ◽  
Mariya Samuilova ◽  
Kayvan Bozorgmehr ◽  
Giuseppe Ippolito ◽  
Roumyana Petrova-Benedict ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Service Provision ◽  
Adult Vaccination ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
And Control

Abstract In 2015, more than 1 million asylum seekers and refugees arrived in Europe. Information on how European countries addressed the prevention and control of infectious diseases among these populations during and after this period is limited. This study is based on 27 semi-structured interviews conducted with first-line staff and health officials in May–June 2016 in first-entry countries (Greece/Italy), transit countries (Croatia/Slovenia) and destination countries (Austria/Sweden). Characteristics of health-service provision for infectious diseases at each stage of reception, with a focus on tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, intestinal parasites and human immunodeficiency virus infections, were investigated. No major differences in the provision of services in accordance with migration status (asylum seekers vs refugees) were reported. At arrival, interventions were focused on addressing emerging health needs and no major barriers to accessing acute hospital care for infectious diseases were reported. There were shortcomings in interventions to tackle medium- to long-term needs with respect to infectious diseases, including screening for chronic treatable infections and adult vaccination. European evidence-based guidance highlighting the most relevant interventions for infectious diseases during the reception process is needed.

scholarly journals Between City and Nation of Sanctuary: Examining the Political Geographies of Asylum and Hospitality in Wales

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Franz Bernhardt
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Nation State ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Archival Material ◽  
Territorial Unit ◽  
State Administration ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
First Time ◽  
Critical Literature

In response to what has been called the European ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, the Welsh Government committed that Wales should become the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary through building a culture of welcome and hospitality. This was an interesting moment given that Wales does not have direct responsibility for British borders. Considering the urban origins of the sanctuary movement, this was also the first-time a (devolved) state administration adopted this vocabulary to frame their relation to refugees and asylum seekers. What might it mean, in practice and in theory, for Wales to declare itself a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’? What are the theoretical and political imaginaries of sanctuary, national identity and hospitality at work in this context? What are their historical precedents? And how do they relate to political responses to the crisis across the UK and Europe? This thesis examines what the idea of a Welsh Nation of Sanctuary means, what it does, and how the discourses and narratives of a ‘Nation of Sanctuary’ provide new ways of revisiting the metaphor of hospitality, and its role in sovereign framings of migration. While the critical literature on migration and the sanctuary movement explored the limits of hospitality as a framing response to the exclusionary politics of asylum, this thesis argues that this national sanctuary discourse is also used to challenge a sovereign nation-state on the expectations of what it entails to ‘be a host’ to refugees and asylum seekers. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, archival material and documents from the Welsh and British government, this thesis argues that this new national sanctuary framing creates a second othering. Here, a subnational or devolved territorial unit creates national self-imaginaries through a politics of differentiation against the sovereign nation-state, with regards to the exclusionary politics of asylum.

scholarly journals Migration, Refugees, and Racism in South Africa

Refuge ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 40-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Handmaker ◽  
Jennifer Parsley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Policy Process ◽  
General Public ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
And Control ◽  
Social Separation ◽  
The Impact

The paper looks at South Africa’s complex history and policies of racism, social separation and control and the impact that this has had on the nature of migration and refugee policy. The paper argues that this legacy has resulted in policy and implementation that is highly racialized, coupled with a society expressing growing levels of xenophobia. Some causes and manifestations of xenophobia in South Africa are explored. It further examines how actions of police and civil servants can mirror the sentiments of the general public, further disadvantaging refugees and migrants. The outcomes of the WCAR are discussed with acknowledgment of the positive gains made for refugees and asylum seekers. The implications for implementation are debated in light of the attacks on the USA. In conclusion, a number of recommendations are made including the need for ongoing public awareness strategies, the value of the WCAR Declarations as lobbying tools, a pragmatic and democratic policy process and the need to highlight development concerns in approaches to address these issues.

scholarly journals Life in the Shadow Carceral State: Surveillance and Control of Refugees in Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 61-75
Author(s):  
Anthea Vogl ◽  
Elyse Methven
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seeker ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
State Power ◽  
Legal Authority ◽  
Carceral State ◽  
Original Dataset ◽  
Australian State ◽  
State Surveillance ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
And Control

This article critically examines techniques employed by the Australian state to expand its control of refugees and asylum seekers living in Australia. In particular, it analyses the operation of Australia’s unique Asylum Seeker Code of Behaviour, which asylum seekers who arrive by boat must sign in order to be released from mandatory immigration detention, with reference to an original dataset of allegations made under the Code. We argue that the Code and the regime of visa cancellation and re-detention powers of which it forms a part are manifestations of what Beckett and Murakawa call the ‘shadow carceral state’, whereby punitive state power is extended beyond prison walls through the blurring of civil, administrative and criminal legal authority. The Code contributes to Australia’s apparatus of refugee deterrence by adding to it a brutal system of surveillance, visa cancellation and denial of services for asylum seekers living in the community.

scholarly journals Roles of Infection Prevention and Control Nurses (IPCNs) in Preparing for Emerging Infectious Diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Erna Tsalatsatul Fitriyah ◽  
Meidiana Dwidiyanti ◽  
Luky Dwiantoro
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
And Control

Background: Infectious diseases have become one of the world’s serious problems including in Indonesia. Infectious diseases can originate from the community and hospital environment. Health workers performing inappropriate medical procedures could also be a cause of transmission of infectious diseases. Infection prevention and control nurses (IPCNs) as the pioneers of prevention and infection control in hospitals have not optimally played their roles.   Purpose: This study aimed to explore the roles of IPCNs and their constraints in preparing for emerging infectious diseases. Methods: The present study employed a qualitative design with the hermeneutic phenomenological approach. The samples were seven IPCNs for the primary participants, and two Infection Prevention and Control Officers (IPCOs) and 13 Infection Prevention and Control Link Nurses (IPCLNs) as the triangulation participants. The data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews analyzed using a content analysis technique.   Results: The results identified two themes: (1) IPCNs played roles as clinical practitioners, activity coordinators, administrators, and educators, and (2) the roles of IPCNs had not been optimal due to the lack of support from the hospital management, insufficient infrastructure, weak monitoring and evaluation, and the unavailability of appropriate rewards and  punishment.Conclusion: The majority of participants in this study agreed that IPCNs had tried well to play their roles. However, various obstacles were encountered, which hindered the IPCNs in performing their roles.

scholarly journals Impact of sexual violence on disclosure during Home Office interviews

2007 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Bögner ◽  
Jane Herlihy ◽  
Chris R. Brewin
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Personal Information ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Stress Symptoms ◽  
History Of ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

BackgroundLate disclosure or nondisclosure during Home Office interviews is commonly cited as a reason to doubt an asylum seeker's credibility, but disclosure may be affected by other factors.AimsTo determine whether and how sexual violence affects asylum seekers' disclosure of personal information during Home Office interviews.MethodTwenty-seven refugees and asylum seekers were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and self-report measures.ResultsThe majority of participants reported difficulties in disclosing. Those with a history of sexual violence reported more difficulties in disclosing personal information during Home Office interviews, were more likely to dissociate during these interviews and scored significantly higher on measures of posttraumatic stress symptoms and shame than those with a history of non-sexual violence.ConclusionsThe results indicate the importance of shame, dissociation and psychopathology in disclosure and support the need for immigration procedures sensitive to these issues. Judgments that late disclosure is indicative of a fabricated asylum claim must take into account the possibility of factors related to sexual violence and the circumstances of the interview process itself.

scholarly journals Scabies epidemiology in health care centers for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Louka ◽  
Emmanouil Logothetis ◽  
Daniel Engelman ◽  
Eirini Samiotaki-Logotheti ◽  
Spyros Pournaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Background Scabies is a global health concern disproportionally affecting vulnerable population such as refugees and asylum seekers. Greece is a main geographical point of entry in Europe for refugees, but epidemiological data on scabies in this population is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of scabies, including trends over the study period. Methodology/Principal findings Data were collected from June, 2016 to July, 2020, using the surveillance system of the Greek National Public Health Organization. Staff at health centers for refugees/asylum seekers compiled daily reports on scabies and other infectious diseases. Observed proportional morbidity for scabies was calculated using consultations for scabies as a proportion of total consultations. There were a total of 13118 scabies cases over the study period. Scabies was the third most frequently observed infectious disease in refugees/asylum seekers population after respiratory infections and gastroenteritis without blood in the stool. The scabies monthly observed proportional morbidity varied between 0.3% (August 2017) to 5.6% (January 2020). Several outbreaks were documented during the study period. An increasing number of cases was observed from October 2019 until the end of the study period, with a peak of 1663 cases in January 2020, related to an outbreak at one center. Spearman correlation test between the number of reported scabies cases and time confirmed an increasing trend (ρ=0.67). Conclusions/Significance Scabies is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseases by health care workers in refugee/asylum seekers centers in Greece. Consultations for scabies increased over time and there were several outbreaks. The current surveillance system effectively detects new cases in an early stage. Public health interventions, including mass drug administration, should be considered to reduce the burden of scabies in refugee/migrant populations.

scholarly journals Eritrean Refugees’ and Asylum-Seekers’ Attitude towards and Access to Oral Healthcare in Heidelberg, Germany: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11559
Author(s):  
Yonas Kidane ◽  
Sandra Ziegler ◽  
Verena Keck ◽  
Janine Benson-Martin ◽  
Albrecht Jahn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Dental Care ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers

Oral health concerns in Eritrean refugees have been an overlooked subject. This qualitative study explored the access of Eritrean refugees and asylum-seekers (ERNRAS) to oral health care services in Heidelberg, Germany, as well as their perceptions and attitudes towards oral health care. It involved 25 participants. We employed online semi-structured interviews (n = 15) and focus group discussions (n = 2). The data was recorded, transcribed, and analysed, using thematic analysis. The study found out that most of the participants have a relatively realistic perception and understanding of oral health. However, they have poor dental care practices, whilst a few have certain misconceptions of the conventional oral hygiene tools. Along with the majority’s concerns regarding psychosocial attributes of poor oral health, some participants are routinely consuming Berbere (a traditional spice-blended pepper) to prevent bad breath. Structural or supply-side barriers to oral healthcare services included: communication hurdles; difficulty in identifying and navigating the German health system; gaps in transculturally, professionally, and communicationally competent oral health professionals; cost of dental treatment; entitlement issues (asylum-seekers); and appointment mechanisms. Individual or demand-side barriers comprised: lack of self-sufficiency; issue related to dental care beliefs, trust, and expectation from dentists; negligence and lack of adherence to dental treatment follow-up; and fear or apprehension of dental treatment. To address the oral health burdens of ERNRAS, it is advised to consider oral health education, language-specific, inclusive, and culturally and professionally appropriate healthcare services.

scholarly journals Young refugees’ and asylum seekers’ career choices: a qualitative investigation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Fedrigo ◽  
Shagini Udayar ◽  
Cecilia Toscanelli ◽  
Eva Clot-Siegrist ◽  
Federico Durante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Career Choices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Professional Integration ◽  
Career Plans ◽  
Life Trajectories ◽  
Integration Program ◽  
French Speaking ◽  
Refugees And Asylum Seekers ◽  
Social And Professional Integration

AbstractA major challenge for refugees and asylum seekers is social and professional integration. Using constructivist and capability approaches, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 young refugees and asylum seekers enrolled in an integration program in French-speaking Switzerland about their career choices. Following consensual qualitative and phenomenological approaches, we focused on their life trajectories (the situation in their home country, triggers behind their flight, arrival in Switzerland) and their current situation (resources and barriers). From their career plans, interests, and values, we formed three profiles (the vocation seekers, the altruists, and the work lovers) to characterize how they constructed their careers.

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